This week I attended a funeral, while driving through the cemetery to the place this kind man was being laid to rest, I realized, I HAVE a serious addiction. As I drove through the winding roads, surrounded by the names of the departed - faithful or not, I could not keep myself from repeatedly reciting, "Eternal rest grant unto thee, let perpetual light shine upon them, and may they rest in peace," followed by, "Jesus, Mary, I love you, save souls."

Prayers I have been taught would benefit the souls of those who have died and are presently suffering the pains of Purgatory. The latter given from a mystic named, now Servant of God, Sr. Maria Consolata Betrone. While, I don't get myself wrapped in the logistics of indulgences and personal revelation, I do believe in "no harm no foul" for offering any type of prayer for the dead. It is a Spiritual Work of Mercy afterall. I do will admit though to absolutely love how mystic and mysterious the Catholic faith can be, while still being concretely built on tradition and scripture.

It was November, 2010, when I first heard about praying for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, the year before, a dear friend had passed away on All Saint's Day. In preparing for her anniversary, I pulled up the Liturgical Calendar and for the first time realized what day came AFTER All Saint's day. Curious, I did a little Google search, and discovered many novena's and prayers, including a devotion involving visiting cemeteries daily from November 1 through the 8th. Intrigued, and always one for cool field trips, I decide to not only participate but take it up a notch by attending Mass every morning during that time, and visiting 8 DIFFERENT cemeteries. Some days I brought along my entire family, and one evening my son and I went late at night with a flashlight and our rosary beads to pray. For my visits to cemeteries be it Nov. 1 - 8, or any time of the year, I chose the prayer I found in the Pieta

To assist the souls in Purgatory is to perform the most excellent of the works of mercy, or rather it is to practice in a most sublime manner all the works of mercy together; it is to visit the sick; it is to give drink to those who thirst for the vision of God; it is to feed the hungry, to ransom prisoners, to clothe the naked, to procure for poor exiles the hospitality of the Heavenly Jerusalem; it is to comfort the afflicted, to instruct the ignorant - in fine, to practice all works of mercy in one." St Francis de Sales